Self-leveling platform of a tilted body



March 14, 1933. v W H HEISE 1,901,629

SELF LEVELING PLATFORM OF A TILTED BODY Mah @4, 933. W, HV H5155 LQLZQ SELF LEVELING PLATFORM OF A TILTED BODY' Filed July l5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afro/#vak fis Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATESv PATENT] ori-fica" WIILIAM H. HISE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 BIG ROCK-RANCH "COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA SEI'E-LE'V'ELING?v PLATFORM 0F A TILTED BODY Applcationiled July 15, 1929. Serial No. 378,299.

My invention relates to hearses, and more particularly to the side-loading type of hearse which is now in extensive use. The side-loading hearse to whichV I referhas a coffin-supporting platform lor coin dolly` the curb ofa crowned street, the hearse body v isinclined to the horizontalI and inclined to a horizontal sidewalk adjacent the curb. Theinclination of the hearse body causes theplatform to be inclined so that the outer end is lowest. It is verydiicult to load a horizontally-carried coffin onto an inclined coiin platform because the front end of the ccflin contacts the top of the coffin platform and vpreventsit from beingmoved over the top thereof. This is objectionable during a funeral as it createsconfusion and mars the solemnity of the occasion.

It is an object of my invention to provide a self-leveling platform for the body of a hearse which willoccupy a substantially horizontal position regardless ofthe angularity of the road or the transaxial inclinay tion of the h'earse body.

It is another object of my invention to `provide `a means of retaining the platform in substantially horizontal position so that when it is extended out of the side of the Y Ahearse body, the weight of the casket placed 'thereon will not cause the platform to move from horizontal. .This clamping Vmeans is also of advantage in holding the platform stationary in the hearse body when the hearse is in motion.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a leveling means which is substantially self-leveling when the 'clamping means is released. This is of advantage since it allows the platform to be leveled automatically and then clamped in place.

Further objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.vl

v In the accompanying drawings I have shown a preferred form of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end view-of a hearse body showing the utility of my invention. L L

Fig. 2 rs a partial sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view` of the base of my invention. I v

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4..-4' of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is asection` taken on the'lineofFigA.. v Y f Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing vanother clamping meansI of my invention. i L' Fig. 7 is a lpartial sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6. f f Fig. Sis an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, Figs.r 1 -and2 i show a hearse equipped with a device'ofV my invention. In a foor 10 of the hea-rse body is a rectangular opening 11 in` which a rectangular base 12 is positioned. kAt the ends of the base 12 and on a longitudinal axis A-A thereof are. secured supporting lbrackets 13 having axially projecting 'pins 14 which are rotatably supported in bearings 15 secured to the floor 10 of the hearse body for rotatably supporting the base 12 along the axis A-A thereof.

o Secured to the under side of the base 12 are four legs 17 of a pendulum formedini tegrally with a rectangular body 18 which is held at a sufficient distance from the platform 12 to permita drive shaft 19 `of the hearse to pass therebetween. .The body 18 is Y positioned below the center of the base 12 and the weight thereofacts as a pendulum toihold the base 12 horizontal. g o y l In order to lock the base 12from movement lrelative to the floor 10, I provide lock means uated wall 33 which has an engagement face 34 generated around the axis .4l-4.

For gripping the engageable member 32, I providea cam 35 which is secured on a rotatable shaft 36, the shaft 36 being sup-v portedby bearings 37. The shaft 36 is rotated by bevel gears 38 and 39, the bevel gear 39 being secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 40 which extends through the floor 10 and hasan operating crank 42 secured to the upper end thereof. By operating the* crank 42 the shaft 36 may be rotated to engage or disengage the' cam with respect to the Y zontal position.

Y parked the clamp means is released and the engageable member 32. If desiredthe face 34 and the periphery of the cam 35 may be roughened to increase the friction of the member 32 and cam 35. Y

IVhen the clamping means is released the base 12 is free to rotate about the horizontal axis A-Aof the hearse body, and the body 18 being positioned below the center of the base 12 causes the base 12 to assume a hori- The base 12 may then be clamped in vthis positionby operating the n clamping'means as previously described.

Carried byV the'base ,12 is an extendible platform 45 'which is movable from a position in the hearse with its major axis parallel to the axis A-A into a position with its axis at right angles to the axis A-A as shown in Fig. V1. The platforml may be so supported by rollers 46 ofthe platform which operate in slots 47 of the base 12.

In Fig. 1 the hearse is shown parked kon a body 18 causes the base to assume a levelor horizontal position. The -clamp means is again caused to lock the base to the floor. and the platform 45 is extended from'the side of the hearse ready to receive a casket 52. Since the platform is in a horizontal plane the front of the'V casket 52 will not engage the platform at an angle but may be easily placed thereon.

` In Figs. 6 Vto 9 inclusive. I show another form of clamping device 66 which is useful Vin clamping the base 12 to prevent rotation thereof. The clamping device 60 is combined with a supporting means for supporting the forward end of the base 12 and comprises a supporting bracket 62 secured at the center of the forward end ofthey base 12 and having an extending pin 63.v The pin 63 is jour- Leonesa naled by a partial bearing 65 secured to the floor 10 and having a depending arm 67 pivotally connected thereto. A shoe portion 68 of the depending arm 67 engages the pin 63 with a clamping action when the arm 67 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8. 'Ihe lower'end of the arm 67 is formed into a fork 70 which engages flattened portions of diametrically opposite slots71 in the surface of a nut72 in a manner to prevent the nut 72 from rotating. -The nut 72 is threadedly received on a transverse shaft 74 journaled by suitable bearings 75 on the under side of the floor 10, the extending ends of the shaft 74 being square to provide a means for securing an operating crank 77 thereon. An additional operating leverf80 on the shaft 74 extends into the drivers compartment and is operated by the driver.v

In the operation ofthe clamping `device 60, the shaft 74 is turned bythe crank77 or lever 80. The nut 72, being-prevented from rotating by engagement of thefork,f.70 with the slots 71, is caused'.l to move longitudinally of the shaft 74,l thus pivoting the arm 67 and releasing or clamping the shoe portion 68 against the pin 63 soy as to permit vor pre# vent rotation of the base l12.

I claim as my invention:

1. In. a hearse, the combination-of a body having a longitudinal axis; a platform nor. mally disposedwithin said body and-movable about said axis; -means for laterally swinging said platform to a transverse position relative toisaid hearse, said axial and said lateral movements of said platform being in dependent; and locking means for arresting said axial movement of said platformin any one of a plurality of positions relative to said axis. Y

2. In a hearse, the combination of: a body having a longitudinal axis; va base member in said body adapted to move about said axis; a platform associated with said base member and laterally movable from ay position' in which it is parallel with said axis to a transverse position relative to said axis; and locking means for arresting the axial movement of said base member in any one of a plurality of positions relative to vsaid axis.

V3. In a hearse, the combinationof: a body having a longitudinal axis; a floor in said body; a base member in said body; pendulum means for controlling the movement of said base member about said axis;a platform associated with said base member and laterally movable from a position in which it isl parallel to said axis to a transverse position relative to said axis; and means for arresting the axial movement of said base member in any vposition relative to .said floor to which said pendulum means may move it. l,

4. In a hearse, the combination of: a body having a longitudinal axis; a floor in said body; a platform normally disposed within said body parallel to and movable about said axis; means for swinging said platform toa transverse position relative to said axis; pendulum means for controlling the axial movement of said platform about said axis;` and means for aresting the axial movement of said platform in any position relative to said oor to which said pendulum means may move it.

ln testimony whereof, I have lieieunte set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 11th clay of July, 1929. WILLIAM H. HEISE. 

